It was time I got started. I’d walk back to Hespurus and secure a horse there. I hadn’t had Hawk long, compared to Smoke, but he was a good horse, especially in the mountains. I had brought my Henry rather than the shotgun and I cocked it. Something must have happened. Maybe Hawk figured it was time to wake up, but as soon as I cocked the rifle, he snorted, shuddered again and stood up.
I let him stand to get his bearings and then went over to check the blood coming from his head. I had to grab him and pull his head down as he didn’t relish me probing around. From what I could tell there was just a groove across the top of his head with a lot of blood.
Those outlaws had a good start on me, but I didn’t want to rush Hawk. I grabbed the reins and we started out walking. He didn’t seem out of sorts, and after fifteen minutes or so I decided to mount him. First off, I figured he might want some water, but everything was snow. My thoughts were in a flurry, get Hawk some water, or mount and take off after Dreg and the others. I was afraid they would be heading back to do something to Molly.
I finally succumbed to the idea that Hawk needed something to drink. If I rushed him, neither of us might make it back to Durango. I quickly built a little fire and put some snow in the pan that I carry. It really didn’t take that long and he drank it down so I melted some more. After he finished that I stowed the pan, checked his head once more then mounted starting out at a slow trot.
Clouds were starting to roll in and it was warming up some. Snow – I needed to get back before it hit. Worried? I reckon I was. I tried to not think of all the scenarios that could be taking place. I knew that most of the things we worry about never come to pass, but the threat, no the promise was that they wanted to hurt me.
I rode up to the eatery, but couldn’t see much because the windows were all boarded up. Dismounting up the street I decided to go through the alley. Opening the back door as quietly as possible I could see the room lit up normally. Perhaps I had overthought and was worried for nothing. This time of evening there would be customers. I started to walk right in, but something in my gut stopped me.
Looking around I noticed that neither Marta or her mother was in the kitchen. If there were customers they were mighty quiet. I peeked around the corner from the kitchen and saw Marta’s mother and Lucas laying on the floor, motionless.
Marta and Molly were both in chairs with Dreg and another guy beside them. I looked around and saw a third man, standing in the back right corner behind some customers.
“Good folk of Durango,” came Dreg’s voice. “Tonight you’ll be the witnesses of vengeance to be taken against Miles Forrest.”
A customer, on the left side of the room, stood up. “Now see here….” A shot rang from the man in the corner and the man grabbed his shoulder. A companion at his table pulled him back to his chair.
“Any more of you want to question our authority on this matter?”
“Men, leave the women alone,” came a voice.
The man standing by Marta left and swung his rifle across the face of man who had spoken.
“Now, watch as I make the first cut.” He took his knife and placed it just below Molly’s ear.
I had to move now! Then the door burst open. It was Trenton. The man in the corner fired, but it was the break I needed. I fired at Dreg and Molly tipped her chair over.
The man in the corner turned my way and I snapped a shot at him. I didn’t have time to think of the customers, I just hoped they all hit the floor when the commotion started. My attention went back to the third man. He raised his rifle and put it to the side of Marta’s head. I didn’t have time for a shot came from Dreg. Then there was another somewhere, and then a couple of more.
Getting Dreg in my sights I fired and hit him again. The other man was down, and I glanced at the corner and that man was down with a couple of men standing over him. I walked to Dreg. He looked at me and gave his laugh, but not with the loudness as before.
“Forrest, I’ve done killed myself.” He smiled and rolled over and I could see his knife deep in his stomach. “Another life Forrest, and I could’ve liked you.”
“Who paid you?”
He was still smiling, but there was no answer, for he was dead.

I saddled up Hawk and stopped by the eatery on the way out of town.  Molly had a couple of ham sandwiches made for me, and had packed some bacon and coffee in my saddlebag in case I had to stay over. 
“Miles, I don’t feel good about this,” she said. 
Pulling her close I held her.  “It’ll be all right.  The Lord guides our steps.”
Mounting I started to ride off when she spoke up again.  “Miles Forrest, you come back to me.”
I tipped my hat and road off down the street.
It hadn’t snowed in a few days and there had been some traffic on the road, so I couldn’t see the tracks clearly.  Even though the sun was shining bright it was cold.  I moved slowly from one side of the road to the other looking to see if any horses had moved off the road.
It was hard to see, the sun was so bright upon the snow.  I pulled my bandana around and cut a couple of places where I could see making a sort of mask.  Snow blindness was no fun, but the drawback was that I could not get a clear view around me.  I moved slowly.  A couple of hours went by.  I passed a couple of turnoffs, but felt that they stayed on the main road going toward Cortez. 
I knew they wouldn’t want to be staying out in the cold so I began to think of places on the road where they might hold up.  I knew the road pretty well as I traveled the coach this way often.  There were a few shacks here and there and then the little village of Mancos.  It was close to thirty miles and with the road conditions I don’t think they would make it that far.
Coming to the junction that would jog a few miles to the south to Hesperus or north to Mayday, I hesitated.  Not relishing to stay out in below zero degree weather I rode on down to Hesperus.  Western folk are pretty good about taking in strangers, especially during the winter so I figured I could find a place for the night.  There were a couple of stores and houses and I rode up to one that had a couple of horses out front.
It was warm inside.  There were some men watching a couple of others play checkers.  They greeted me with a nod.  I asked if they had any visitors recently.
“You a lawman?” one asked.
“Detective, I work for Wells Fargo.”
“Yur the first person that’s stopped in a couple of days.”
“Know of any place I can set up for the night?”
“There’s an empty shack down a piece.  Ifn there’s no wood cut, you can take some from the pile outback.”
“Thanks,” I turned and moved on out.
The shack was easy to find.  I probably shouldn’t have done it, but I brought Hawk inside.  I put him on one side of the room, but was concerned that he might get too accustomed to the warmth.  It was going to drop well below zero tonight so didn’t think it would hurt for one night.  After I got a fire started I found a pot outside and threw in some snow to melt for Hawk.  I threw my bedroom out in front of the fire and then fried up some of the bacon and put on the coffee.  Glad I had four walls and a roof for soon the wind was a howling. 
The next morning I had a quick breakfast and another pot of coffee then we were off.  I had hoped to find some hay for Hawk but none had been available.  I had better be sure and give him a good feed when we got back.
The wind last night didn’t help for it made the snow hard and would cover up any tracks that might have been there.  I decided to travel on down the road as far as Mancos before turning around.  We had been on the road a couple of hours, moving slowly.  A shot, then another.  Hawk shuddered and fell.  That little moment of shudder gave me time to pull my feet from the stirrups or I would have had a leg trapped underneath him.
I hunkered down beside him.  He was still, but I could feel him breathing.  What a stinking, rotten thing to do–shoot a man’s horse.  The shots came from above me in some rocks.  I was fortunate.  Then I heard sounds of horses galloping just to the east of where I lay.  Dummy!  They put me afoot and now were heading back to Durango.
The words came to me, “They plan to hurt me.”  They shot my horse…Durango.  They were going back after Molly.  I was almost in a panic when…

Glass shattered and flew everywhere.  I felt a few small shards but I was up and running to the back door hoping to see and possibly get a shot off, but the snow hindered me.  When I finally made it out to the street all I could see was the backs of two riders. 
As I was standing there looking down the road, I felt a tug on my shoulder.  I turned and there was a rider coming from a side street firing.  They had set me up.  I dropped to one knee, lifted the Greener and fired both barrels.  A scream came from the horse as it went down, the rider had been knocked off with the blast.
Drawing my pistol I moved slowly toward the downed horse.  The horse was breathing hard, snorting, but I was more concerned about the rider who had shot at me.  Upon closer inspection I had no need to be worried for he took most of the blast in his neck and upper chest.  He wasn’t moving, but had already moved on to eternal judgment.
By that time a crowd was beginning to assemble.  I glanced toward the eatery and saw Molly standing in the doorway.  I raised my hand to let her know I was all right.  Doc Jones was kneeling by the deceased and coming up the street was Marshal Gold.  There wasn’t anything I could do so I walked to Molly.
Both windows had been shot out and Molly took me by the arm.  Walking in I saw Marta wiping blood off Hannah.  Greta was sitting there and appeared to be all right.  It then came to mind that I should check Molly.  I noticed a small cut on her neck, but it wasn’t currently bleeding.  Hannah had been sitting to the side of Molly and she seemed to have taken several small pieces.
I tried not to make eye contact with either of them and went to the stove and the coffeepot. 
“Miles Forrest!” cried Greta.  “You care only about a cup of coffee and didn’t even ask how we are?  We can’t even bring you eggs and sit down without you bringing trouble down on us!”
Doc and Gold came in at that time, saving me from her wrath.  Charlie motioned for me to sit.  “Tell me what happened.”
I proceeded with the events and then stopped.  “Doc, make sure that Trenton gets a look at that rider.”
“Not much to look at,” said Doc.  “Most of his lower face was gone from the blast.  But, I’m ahead of you Miles.  I already went to get Trenton.  He’s not in his room,” he paused.  “And he’s not here.”
“Doc,” came the voice of Marta.  He nodded and went to look at Hannah. 
I finally got around to pouring me a cup of coffee.  “Finished Charlie?  I’m going to saddle up while I have a fresh trail.”
It was then that Molly exclaimed.  “Miles, you’re bleeding!”  I had forgotten about the shot.  I didn’t think it was much.  “Doc!”  Molly ordered.  “Get over here and check him out!”
That didn’t make Hannah very happy as she seemed to be enjoying the attention.  However, she was a grumpy lady anyway.  “He’s fit,” said Doc.  “Just a scratch on the top of the shoulder.”
I gave Molly a quick kiss on the cheek.  “I’ll stop by after saddlin’ up Hawk.  This might be my opportunity.”
Slurping down the rest of my coffee I got up and started out.  Hannah refused to look at me, but I got a little smile from Greta.
“See you on my way out,” I said to Molly.

It was cold sleeping in the backroom of the eatery, but Molly and I had done it before.  Despite Lucas being cut, I reckoned the burning of that shack might be a blessing.  Dreg had meant it to hurt me, but now I can go out and look for a better place for us to live.  I had been wanting to do that for some time.  The good Lord can turn evil around for the good. 
I wasn’t thrilled that Lucas had been an object in their little game.  At least Dreg didn’t kill him.  One thing that really does get to me is seeing friends of mine hurt.  Especially when they are a ploy for evil men, and are innocent.
Gray-light would be showing in a little while.  I was just about to get up from out pallet, but it felt so good there with the blankets and buffalo robe over us.  “Just a few more minutes,” I thought and snuggled closer to Molly.
“You have to help him,” came her voice.
“Help who?” I asked.  “I thought you were still sleepin’.”
“Have to get up and get the fire started in the stove since you’re going to be lazy this morning.”
“Yes ma’am!” I said with emphasis.  I shook out my boots; a person never knows if a spider crawled in them during the night.  It was a habit from my cowboying days, only then it was snakes and scorpions.  Grabbed my hat and started to pull my pants on.
“Miles,” said Molly.  “We’ve been together several years now and I’ve always wondered.  Why do you put your boots on first?  Would it be easier to put on your pants and then your boots?”
I looked over at her.  “Never really thought ’bout it.  Just the way I do it, and now I’ve got to go get the fire started before I freeze.”
It didn’t take long to get the stove going, but I noticed that the wood was getting short.  Lucas, with his arm, hadn’t been able to chop any.  That would be one job for the day.  I went to the pump to fill up the coffeepot and put it on the stove.
There was movement in the backroom, Molly was up, getting dressed, and folding up the bedding materials.  In a few minutes she came through the door.  I sure don’t know how she does it; she looked fresh as a daisy, hair combed and a smile. 
“Greta and Hannah will be coming by in a little while with fresh eggs.  They said the hens are slowing down their laying with the cold weather.  I have a couple left, and I’ll whip up some pancakes for them,” she paused.  “It’s sure cold, that coffee ready yet?”
She started working and I went out to the dining area and started up that stove so the room could start to warm up.  Being winter it was still dark outside, but in spite of that Molly usually had the place opened at 6:00.  By the time I went back to the kitchen to check on the coffee, Marta and her mother were there for the day’s work.  They were sure a God-send.
Fiona shooed Molly out of the kitchen so she could come and sit with me.  I grabbed the pot and Marta started another one.  “Sausage, venison, or ham?” yelled Fiona.
“Yes!” I replied.
“Don’t be so smart,” scolded Molly as she sat down.  I poured her a cup.
“Back to Trenton, you’ve got to help him.  Don’t you see what is happening?” she asked.
“I see it.  I don’t like what happened to him one bit, but it is his choice how he handles it,” I took a sip.  But yur right, he could go to the bad.”
She laid her hand on my arm.  “Miles, you have to try.  Didn’t you say you helped your friend, Elias, out of a situation like this once?”
“No two men are alike.” 
The words were just out of my mouth when in walked Hannah and Greta.  We both got up and gave them a hug.  “Sit down,” I said.  “I’ll get you some coffee.”
We were sitting back down when there was a blast, then another.  I knocked Molly to the floor.  Hannah shrieked and fell to the floor, Greta was already under the table.